Google, will you write this email for me, please? Google’s Smart Reply App

Google Apps just crossed a major milestone. Apps for Work (its Microsoft Office killer) and Google Drive for Work (its online storage service) are now being used by 2 million paying businesses.

Google is taking another big step and introducing many new features for its app customers. One of the coolest new things Google announced is a new feature to its smart mail app, Inbox, called Smart Reply.

This is a feature that actually understands your email and then suggests three quick responses for you to reply. Using what’s called, “machine learning” to help you respond to email faster, much like the Inbox app itself, which tries to help you reduce clutter by organising all your email into categories like promotions, trips, purchases etc.

This is the latest smart feature Google Inbox has added to make email more productive. For instance, in December, Google added a feature called “Assists” which sifts through you inbox and tries to find information, reminders and stuff you need to know.

Another big new feature is a new project it calls “Recommended for Google Apps for Work.” An app marketplace that helps companies vet popular apps written by others. These apps are reviewed by Google and an independent third-party security auditor to ensure they can be safely added to Google Apps.

These are the first 6 Recommended apps:

  • ProsperWorks for CRM – turns Gmail into a giant “customer relationship management” system, software used by salespeople and others to track interactions with customers and prospects.
  • SmartSheet - project management
  • Ringcentral & Switch - cloud-based communications telephony
  • AODocs & Power tools – document management that makes documents easier to find and share.
  • Ping Identity – employee passwords and security
  • Okta – employee passwords and security

Meanwhile, Google has also updated the Apps Marketplace to make it easier for employees to find apps that their companies have licensed for them.

Could this be the Smart Reply to higher productivity we’re seeking?